Myopia control optical system

ABSTRACT

An optical system having a transmission pattern comprising at least a first zone Z 1  extending from at or about 380 nm to a first limit L 1  between Z 1,  and a second zone Z 2.  A third zone Z 3  extends from a second limit L 2  between Z 2  and Z 3  to about 780 nm. L 1  may be greater than or equal to or about 436 nm. Second limit L 2  may be greater than L 1  and smaller than or equal to or about 487 nm. The average transmission values T 1,  T 2,  T 3,  in each zone Z 1,  Z 2,  Z 3  may be: T 2&gt; 5*(T 1+ T 3 )/2, with T 1  the average transmission over Z 1,  T 2  the average transmission over Z 2,  T 3  the average transmission over Z 3.  T 1  and T 3  may be greater than or equal to or about 3% and smaller than or equal to or about 70%. T 2  may be greater than or equal to or about 75%.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority from European Application for Patent No. 13305237 filed Mar. 1, 2013, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference in its entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to an optical system having a transmission pattern specifically adapted to slow down myopia progression of the wearer and to a method for selecting an optical system as described herein.

BACKGROUND

The discussion herein of the background is included to explain the context of the invention described. This is not to be taken as an admission that any of the material referred to was published, known or part of the common general knowledge at the priority date of any of the claims.

Myopia may have severe long term consequences on the eye that may even result in blindness. It appears that for most individuals, in particular for children, the myopia condition of the eye tends to increase with time.

It is therefore crucial to slow or stop the progression of myopia, as the severity of its consequences is linked to the severity of the final myopia that is reached by the patient.

Recent studies point out natural light can help slow down myopia progression. In particular, it has been observed that outdoors activities slow down myopia progression.

However, when individual and in particular children spend time outdoors, their eyes are also exposed to harmful light (UV, blue light). Solar lenses protect the eyes from the harmful effects of natural light but also appear to decrease the benefits of the outdoor activities on the myopia progression.

Therefore, there remains a need for an optical device that provides protection for the eye from the harmful wavelength of natural light and maintains or even enhances the benefit of outdoor activity on myopia progression.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

As described is an optical device that achieves some of all of the needs described above.

In accordance with one or move embodiments there is provided an optical system having a transmission pattern comprising at least a first zone Z1 extending from about 380 nm to a first limit L1 between the first zone Z1 and a second zone Z2. A third zone Z3 extends from a second limit L2 between the second zone Z2 and the third zone Z3 to about 780 nm. The first limit L1 may be greater than or equal to or about 436 nm. The second limit L2 may be greater than the first limit L1 and smaller than or equal to or about 487 nm. The average transmission values T1, T2, T3, in each zone Z1, Z2, Z3 are provided by: T2>5*(T1+T3)/2, in which T1 is the average transmission over the first zone Z1, T2 is the average transmission over the second zone Z2, and T3 is the average transmission over the third zone Z3. T1 and T3 may be greater than or equal to or about 3% and smaller than or equal to or about 70%. T2 may be greater than or equal to or about 75%.

Advantageously, the transmission pattern of the optical system described herein provides protection from harmful wavelengths of natural light, in the first and third zones and having a greater transmission in the second zone maintains the benefit of outdoor activities on the progression of myopia.

Indeed, the wavelengths comprised in the second zone appear to increase the retinal Dopamine secretion that slow down myopia progression.

Furthermore, the average transmission over the first and second zones is such that the wearer's pupil size in increased when wearing the optical device. Therefore the amount of light the wearer's retina receives in the wavelengths corresponding to the second zone increases. Thus the benefit of outdoor activities on myopia progression is enhanced when using the optical system according to the described invention.

According to further embodiments, any one or more of the following may be considered alone or in combination:

-   -   the first limit L1 is greater than or equal to or about 446 nm;         and/or     -   the first limit L1 is greater than or equal to or about 456 nm;         and/or     -   the second limit L2 is smaller than or equal to or about 477 nm;         and/or     -   the second limit L2 is smaller than or equal to or about 467 nm;         and/or     -   the average transmission T2 over the second zone Z2 is greater         than the average transmissions T1 and T3 over the first and         third zones Z1, Z3; and/or     -   the average transmission T1 over the first zone Z1 is smaller         than or equal to the average transmission T3 over the third zone         Z3; and/or     -   the average transmission T1 over the first zone Z1 is greater         than or equal to or about 8% and smaller than or equal to or         about 43%; and/or     -   the average transmission T1 over the first zone Z1 is greater         than or equal to or about 8% and smaller than or equal to or         about 18%; and/or     -   the average transmission T3 over the third zone Z3 is greater         than or equal to or about 8% and smaller than or equal to or         about 43%; and/or     -   the average transmission T3 over the third zone Z3 is greater         than or equal to or about 8% and smaller than or equal to or         about 18%; and/or     -   the optical system is an optical system selected among the list         of optical systems consisting of optical lens, ophthalmic lens,         spectacle lens, contact lens, intraocular lens.

Further described herein are methods for selecting an optical system according to the inventions described, adapted for a wearer, the methods comprising some or all of the steps of measuring the effect of different optical systems according to some or all of the described inventions on the size of the pupil of the wearer and selecting the optical system having the greatest average transmission value over the first and third zones and for which the wearer's pupil diameter has increased of at least about 0.5 mm when wearing the optical system.

According to further embodiments, described herein are the use of an optical system according to the inventions described to slow down myopia progression of a wearer.

Still further described are methods for slowing down myopia progression of a wearer comprising at least a step of having the wearer wear an optical system according to one or more of the inventions described.

Additionally, described herein are optical systems according to one or more of the inventions described for slowing down myopia progression of a wearer.

According to still further embodiments, described herein are computer program products, at least one or more of which comprise one or more stored sequences of instructions that are accessible to a processor and which, when executed by the processor, causes the processor to carry out the steps of one or more of the methods according to one or more of the described inventions.

The invention further includes a computer readable medium carrying one or more sequences of instructions of the computer program product according to the invention. The machine-readable medium may include, but is not limited to, flash memory, optical disks, CD-ROMs, DVD ROMs, RAMs, EPROMs, EEPROMs, magnetic or optical cards, propagation media or other type of machine-readable media suitable for storing electronic instructions. For example, part of the described invention may be downloaded as a computer program or may be provided as output. The computer program may be transferred from a remote computer (e.g., a server, first computer) to a requesting computer (e.g., a client, second computer) by way of data signals embodied in a carrier wave or other propagation medium via a communication link (e.g., a modem or network connection).

Furthermore, the described inventions relate to a program which makes a computer execute one or more of the methods described. Any computer program product described herein may include a machine-readable medium having stored thereon instructions which may be used to program a computer (e.g., a processor or other electronic device) to perform a sequence of operations or may include a non-transitory computer-readable medium encoded with programmed instructions and execution of the programmed instructions causing another processor or computerized hosting service to run one or more of the described methods. Operations may also be performed by a combination of hardware and software.

Further embodiments described herein include a computer-readable storage medium having a program recorded thereon; where the program makes a computer execute one of the methods of the described inventions. Such a computer program may be stored in the computer readable storage medium, or may be any type of media suitable for storing electronic instructions, and capable of being coupled to a computer system bus.

Embodiments described herein further include at least one device comprising a processor (general purpose of multi-purpose) adapted to store one or more sequence of instructions and to carry out at least one of the steps of the method according to the invention. The methods described or steps of said methods may be embodied in machine-executable instructions which cause a general-purpose or special-purpose processor to perform certain steps. Said execution of the programmed instructions may cause an operably coupled device to respond, generate output, or otherwise operate. For example, a graphical interface or output may be generated. Various additional elements may also be included and associated with said at least one device, such as computer memory, hard drive, input devices and output devices.

Unless specifically stated otherwise, as apparent from the following discussions, it is appreciated that throughout the specification discussions utilizing terms such as “computing”, “calculating”, or the like, refer to the action and/or processes of a computer or computing system, or similar electronic computing device, that manipulate and/or transform data represented as physical, such as electronic, quantities within the computing system's registers and/or memories into other data similarly represented as physical quantities within the computing system's memories, registers or other such information storage, transmission or display devices.

Embodiments of the present invention may include apparatuses for performing the operations herein. Such apparatus may be specially constructed for the desired purposes, or it may comprise a general purpose computer or Digital Signal Processor (“DSP”) selectively activated or reconfigured by a computer program stored in the computer.

The processes and displays are not inherently related to any particular computer or other apparatus. Various general purpose systems may be used with programs in accordance with the teachings herein, or it may prove convenient to construct a more specialized apparatus to perform the desired method. The desired structure for a variety of these systems will appear from the description below. In addition, embodiments of the present invention are not described with reference to any particular programming language. It will be appreciated that a variety of programming languages may be used to implement the teachings of the inventions as described herein.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

Non limiting embodiments of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawing in which:

FIG. 1 is a representative example of a transmission pattern of an optical system as described herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

As illustrated on FIG. 1, an optical system described herein has a transmission pattern comprising a first, second and third zone Z1, Z2, Z3.

The first zone Z1 extends from 380 nm, for example 400 nm, to a first limit L1 between the first zone Z1 and the second zone Z2.

The third zone Z3 extending from a second limit L2 between the second zone Z2 and the third zone Z3 to 780 nm, for example 700 nm.

The average transmission values T1, T2, T3, in each zone Z1, Z2, Z3, are such as:

T2>5*(T1+T3)/2   (1)

with:

-   -   T1 as the average transmission over the first zone Z1,     -   T2 as the average transmission over the second zone Z2, and     -   T3 as the average transmission over the third zone Z3.

T1 and T3 being greater than or equal to 3% and smaller than or equal to 70%, and T2 being greater than or equal to 75%.

As described herein, the “average transmission” over a zone corresponds to average over the corresponding range of wavelength of the percentage of intensity of the incident light within the corresponding range of wavelength that is transmitted through the optical system.

In other words, an average transmission of 70% over the first zone corresponds to 70% of the intensity of the incident light between 380 nm and L1 being transmitted through the optical system.

The inventors have observed an increase in retinal dopamine secretion by having the first limit L1 greater than or equal to 436 nm and the second limit L2 greater than the first limit L1 and smaller than or equal to 487 nm.

According to at least one embodiment of the invention the first limit L1 is greater than or equal to 446 nm, preferably greater than or equal to 456 nm.

According to at least one embodiment of the invention, the second limit L2 is smaller than or equal to 477 nm, preferably smaller than or equal to 467 nm.

So as to further enhance the retinal dopamine secretion the optical system according to the invention is arranged so that the average transmission T2 over the second zone Z2 is greater than the average transmission T1 and T3 over the first and third zones Z1, Z3.

In particular, the inventors have observed significant effects on myopia progression when the average transmission in each zone are such as T2>5*(T1+T3)/2.

Having the average transmission T2 over the second zone Z2 greater than or equal to 75% provides as much light in the range of wavelengths corresponding to the second zone as possible to the wearer's eyes. Thus, increasing the retinal dopamine secretion of the wearer and reducing myopia progression of the wearer's eyes.

So as to provide a good protection of the eyes of the wearer, the average transmission T1 in the first zone may be smaller than the average transmission T3 in the third zone Z3. Indeed, the smaller wavelengths corresponding to the blue part of natural light are the most harmful for the wearer's eyes.

Depending on the use of the optical system and/or the choice of the wearer the average transmissions T1 and T3 over the first and third zones Z1 and Z3 may be different.

According to different embodiments of the invention, the average transmission T1 over the first zone Z1 may be any of:

-   -   greater than or equal to 43% and smaller than or equal to 70%,         so as to provide an optical system adapted for low luminosity         environments,     -   greater than or equal to 18% and smaller than or equal to 42%,         so as to provide an optical system adapted for average         luminosity environments,     -   greater than or equal to 8% and smaller than or equal to 17%, so         as to provide an optical system adapted for high luminosity         environments,     -   in an advantageous embodiment the first zone Z1 is split into a         first sub-zone Z1 a and a second sub-zone Z1 b. The first         sub-zone Z1 a is from 380 nm to 400 nm and the average         transmission T1 a over the sub-zone Z1 aT1 a is smaller than         0.5%. The second sub-zone Z1 b is from 400 nm to the first limit         L1,     -   greater than or equal to 3% and smaller than or equal to 7%, so         as to provide an optical system adapted for very high luminosity         environments.

According to different embodiments of the invention, the average transmission T3 over the third zone Z3 may be any of:

-   -   greater than or equal to 43% and smaller than or equal to 70%,         so as to provide an optical system adapted for low luminosity         environments,     -   greater than or equal to 18% and smaller than or equal to 42%,         so as to provide an optical system adapted for average         luminosity environments,     -   greater than or equal to 8% and smaller than or equal to 17%, so         as to provide an optical system adapted for high luminosity         environments,     -   greater than or equal to 3% and smaller than or equal to 7%, so         as to provide an optical system adapted for very high luminosity         environments.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the optical system may be arranged so as to have a transmission pattern comprising more than 3 zones, in particular the transmission pattern may comprise more than one zone having a great average transmission. In such case, all odd number zones follow of the first and third zones Z1 and Z3 characteristics while the even numbers follow the characteristics of the second zone Z2.

As indicated previously, the optical system according to the invention has several effects on the visual system.

For example, as any solar system, the optical system according to the invention described herein results in an increase of the pupil size to keep a relatively constant retinal illuminance.

In another example, as a consequence of increase of pupil size, the amount of light for the specific band of wavelengths corresponding to the second zone Z2 increases as a function of increase of the pupil diameter.

One result of such increase of transmission for wavelengths corresponding to the second zone Z2 is an increase of dopamine synthesis (compared to not wearing the optical system according to the invention while in high luminance environment), resulting in a slow-down of myopia progression. Moreover, the lens will protect the eye against harmful wavelengths, in particular corresponding to the first zone Z1.

The optical system according to the invention may be a pair of optical lenses or may be a pair of an ophthalmic lenses, for example a pair of progressive addition lenses, or a pair of spectacle lenses, or a pair of contact lenses or a pair of intraocular lenses.

The invention further relates to the use of the optical system according to the invention to slow down myopia progression of the wearer, in particular of children.

The optical system according to the invention may comprise a photochromic function, i.e. the average transmissions in the different zones may vary based on the amount and/or intensity of the light received by the optical system at different wavelengths.

The optical system according to the invention described may comprise an electro-chromic function, i.e. the average transmissions in the different zones may be controlled by an electric signal.

According to one or more embodiments, the optical system may be arranged so that only one of the zones is controlled by either a photochromic or an electro-chromic function, for example the third zone.

The optical system described herein may be obtained by any means known from the skilled person.

For example, a pair of optical lenses according to the invention may be obtained by using a specific interference filter determined to match the specific transmission pattern.

An optical system according to the invention may also be achieved by combining a specific dye with an interference filter each component resulting mainly in the transmission of one zone.

An optical system according to the invention may also be achieved by carrying out means for absorbing light or means for reflecting light. For example, means for absorbing light are based on use of dye, pigment, or any absorber included within the optical system, at a substrate level (within the material of the optical system) and/or at a level of a functional coating on the front face and/or on the rear face of the optical system. For example, means for reflecting light comprise inorganic layers or organic/inorganic layers coated on the front face and/or the rear face of the optical system such as anti-reflection coating, mirror coating, pass-band coating.

For example the part of the transmission pattern corresponding to the first zone Z1 can be obtained either by a UVAPLAST 365 dye or by an interference filter, such as LVF-H High-pass Filter (Ocean Optics).

The part of the transmission pattern corresponding to the third zone Z3 can be obtained through a bluish dye (such as nk-1 from Nidek Corp.) or using a low-pass interference filter or linear variable filter, such as an LVF-L low-pass filter (Ocean Optics).

The invention further relates to a method for selecting an optical system according to the invention adapted for a wearer, such as for a child.

The method comprises the steps of measuring the effect of different optical systems according to the invention on the size of the pupil of the wearer and of selecting the optical system having the greatest average transmission value over the first and third zones and for which the wearer's pupil diameter has increased of at least 0.5 mm when wearing the optical system.

Advantageously, the method according to the invention allows providing the most transparent optical system that has the desired effect of protecting against harmful wavelengths over the first and third zone while reducing the progression of myopia of the wearer.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the method of selected an optical system is carried out under luminance conditions close to the luminance conditions under which the wearer is to use the optical system. For example, if the optical system is to be used under very bright light conditions the method of selection can advantageously be carried out under such bright light conditions.

In a similar manner if the optical system is to be used under average light conditions the method of selection can advantageously be carried out under such average light conditions.

The invention has been described above with the aid of embodiments without limitation of the general inventive concept.

Many further modifications and variations will suggest themselves to those skilled in the art upon making reference to the foregoing illustrative embodiments, which are given by way of example only and which are not intended to limit the scope of the invention, that being determined solely by the appended claims.

In the claims, the word “comprising” does not exclude other elements or steps, and the indefinite article “a” or “an” does not exclude a plurality. The mere fact that different features are recited in mutually different dependent claims does not indicate that a combination of these features cannot be advantageously used. Any reference signs in the claims should not be construed as limiting the scope of the invention. 

1. An optical system having a transmission pattern comprising at least a first zone Z1 extending from 380 nm to a first limit L1 between the first zone Z1 and a second zone Z2, and a third zone Z3 extending from a second limit L2 between the second zone Z2 and the third zone Z3 to 780 nm, wherein the first limit L1 is greater than or equal to 436 nm, wherein the second limit L2 is greater than the first limit L1 and smaller than or equal to 487 nm; wherein the average transmission values T1, T2, T3, in each zone Z1, Z2, Z3 are such as: T2>5*(T1+T3)/2, wherein T1 the average transmission over the first zone Z1, wherein T2 the average transmission over the second zone Z2, wherein T3 the average transmission over the third zone Z3, and wherein T1 and T3 being greater than or equal to 3% and smaller than or equal to 70%, and T2 being greater than or equal to 75%.
 2. The optical system according to claim 1, wherein the first limit L1 is greater than or equal to about 446 nm.
 3. The optical system according to claim 1, wherein the second limit L2 is smaller than or equal to about 477 nm.
 4. The optical system according to claim 1, wherein the average transmission T2 over the second zone Z2 is greater than the average transmissions T1 and T3 over the first and third zones Z1, Z3.
 5. The optical system according to claim 1, wherein the average transmission T1 over the first zone Z1 is smaller than or equal to the average transmission T3 over the third zone Z3.
 6. The optical system according to claim 1, wherein the average transmission T1 over the first zone Z1 is greater than or equal to 8% and smaller than or equal to about 43%.
 7. The optical system according to claim 1, wherein the average transmission T1 over the first zone Z1 is greater than or equal to 8% and smaller than or equal to about 18%.
 8. The optical system according to claim 1, wherein the average transmission T3 over the third zone Z3 is greater than or equal to 8% and smaller than or equal to about 43%.
 9. The optical system according to claim 1, wherein the average transmission T3 over the third zone Z3 is greater than or equal to 8% and smaller than or equal to about 18%.
 10. The optical system according to claim 1, wherein the optical system is an optical system selected among the list of optical systems consisting of optical lens, ophthalmic lens, spectacle lens, contact lens, intraocular lens.
 11. Method for selecting an optical system according to claim 1 and adapted for a wearer, the method comprising: measuring the effect of different optical systems according to claim 1 on the size of the pupil of the wearer; and selecting the optical system having the greatest average transmission value over the first and third zones and for which the wearer's pupil diameter has increased by at least about 0.5 mm when wearing the optical system.
 12. Use of an optical system according to claim 1 to slow down myopia progression of a wearer.
 13. The optical system according to claim 1 for slowing down myopia progression of a wearer.
 14. Use of an optical system according to claim 1 to slow down myopia progression of a wearer, wherein the optical system is an optical system selected among the group of optical systems consisting of optical lens, ophthalmic lens, spectacle lens, contact lens, intraocular lens.
 15. Method for selecting an optical system according to claim 1 and adapted for a wearer, the method comprising: measuring the effect of different optical systems according to claim 1 on the size of the pupil of the wearer; and selecting the optical system having the greatest average transmission value over the first and third zones and for which the wearer's pupil diameter has increased by at least about 0.5 mm when wearing the optical system, wherein the optical system is an optical system selected among the group of optical systems consisting of optical lens, ophthalmic lens, spectacle lens, contact lens, intraocular lens. 